949 Homes for sale as of May 2014, and more buyers than
homes. This is a sellers market, so if you are interested in
selling your home, now is the absolute best time I have seen in 10
years. If you are a buyer you may want to weather the storm
and wait until June/July for the market to settle down a
little. Twinhome values 3 years ago were around $129,000
and today are going for low $140,000 range. Single Family
homes are up about 9-11% from two years ago.

Lots for sale are up in price as well. Moorhead single
family lots are in the range of $40,000 to higher end areas of
around $75-$100K. Fargo is in the higher end of the range and
West Fargo lots are thining out with not much more room to
develop.

Dilworth MN was the fastest growing area percentage wise in the
Red River Valley. Glyndon will be the newest development
starting in 2104 with 130 lots for sale. There are a number
of lots for sale in Horizon Shores in Moorhead MN starting at
around $40,000 but can be a little smaller than normal.
Glyndon development lots will be the best value for your money and
only 6 miles from Moorhead MN or 10 minutes out of South Moorhead
on I94. It looks like the MN side will increase in growth
before the ND side with more lots to choose from at more
inexpensive prices.

Flood Insurance outlook for the ND side looks very uneasy as
there is nothing in place and looming in 2018 is a proposal of
41.1' flood level which would put almost all of Fargo ND requiring
flood insurance which is not going to be cheap. Moorhead put
a system in place and looks to have an advantage on ND side as well
as lower property taxes.

Contact Dave Werth for more information on homes for sale in the
Fargo Moorhead area. Contact Dave Werth Realtor at
218-790-7653 or email Dave @ dave@relofargo.com

Purchasing your first home will be one of the biggest
financial decisions you make in your lifetime.

This is not a decision you want to go into with your eyes
closed. Many times in this process you will be asking yourself "Who
can I trust? What is the next step? How do I know if I am getting a
good mortgage product?" Family Life Credit Services is here for
you!

Family Life Credit Services is a Certified Homebuyer Educator.
We offer an eight hour workshop once a month that will educate you
on all you need to know about purchasing your first home. In these
classes you will also hear from a realtor, a mortgage lender, a
home inspector and insurance agent. Once you have completed the
workshop you are entitled to a one-on-one counseling session where
you and your homeownership counselor will develop an action plan to
help you realize your dreams of owning a home.

Did You Know?

Most communities offer incentives for First-Time Homebuyers such
as Down-Payment and Closing Cost Assistance as well as below market
interest rates guaranteed by the government. Many of those funding
program will only be granted if you attend a Certified Homebuyer
Education Workshop.

Some of the topics
covered in our workshop are:

Is Homeownership Right
for You?

Lifelong Money
Management

Financing a
Home

Qualifying for a
Mortgage and the Loan Application Process

Shopping for a
Home

The Closing
Process

Preventing
Foreclosure

Life as a Home
Owner

Predatory Lending
Practices

We encourage you to contact us if you are considering purchasing
a home within the next year as this workshop would be very
beneficial to you. If you have some further questions please
Contact Dave Werth @ 218-790-7653 or davew@kvammerealestate.com

Fargo ND First Time Homebuyers Class / Moorhead MN First Time
Homebuyers Class

Long-term rates fell again during the week of
Thanksgiving as concern for the economy deepened: the 10-year
Treasury fell to 3.27 percent, taking mortgages a hair under 5
percent. However, much of the new data in the
holiday-shortened week was quite favorable: new claims for
unemployment insurance nosedived to 466,000 last week, a huge drop
from the prior 505,000 threshold and 200,000 below the worst of
last winter. Another happy surprise: October sales of
existing homes surged 10.1 percent, sales of new ones by 6.2
percent, and even purchase loan applications showed a little
life. Look for a strong start in February, 2 months earlier
than the norm for home sales to start moving. Rates look to
move higher in mid 2010 and may be there to stay... Contact
your lender for more detailed information...

Personal
Growth and Development

Why We Must Connect With Others

It is important to remember that we are human beings.
And being human, it is important to realize that we are designed to
connect with others. It is the separation of that design that
removes the happiness and fulfillment that we all need. It is that
connection that allows you to live The Good Life. It is not our
calling to go about our lives focused only on what we do at work,
and then try to fit our personal lives into the cracks of the
day. Our capacity for love, affection, warmth, and friendship
are rich and reliable sources of human happiness. The key is to
transform the "I" and "U" in our lives into "We." Evolving our
lives to a higher level allows us to cultivate a sense of belonging
that brings rich rewards of human satisfaction, along with better
physical, mental, and emotional health. The key is to connect with
others. Connecting with the human race helps to strengthen the
wider community and is vital to building a better you.

Managing Your
Debt - For Couples Being
Married and Handling the Money by Carol Ann

Many times, one person in the relationship is primarily in
charge of the finances, but it really should be a team effort.
When a couple is not on the same page, it's extremely hard to
reach any debt elimination goals, much less overall financial
goals.

Getting married always brings sets of issues to the table, the
biggest problem area can be the financial area. Lack of
communication is generally the instigator for the problems to
arise. So it's crucial that the communication stays open even if
only one person is handling the normal processes, both need to know
what's going on.

Now you may think that you are taking on all the financial
responsibility by being the one who is shouldering the burden of
paying the bills, however what you may truly be doing is making
your spouse reliant on you. If your spouse is not aware of all the
financial information, then if something happens to you, how will
they go on? Will they know what bills are due and who to pay? Or
will they even know which bank their money is in? If you
think it's a protective measure to keep negative financial
information from your partner, you're wrong; it's a good way of
causing a problem. Even if money problems are all around, it's fair
to let your spouse know what is happening in the household budgets.
You don't have to talk about it every day but at least do an update
once a quarter.

Communicating about the finances can take a couple of different
paths. One way is to have separate bills and separate accounts,
this works well for some. Another way is to have a book where the
money coming and going can be noted, then the spouse can look at it
and it doesn't have to be a daily discussion. The best scenario is
for both partners to be engaged in the handling of financials
whether they are negative or positive. Sharing information makes it
a team effort so that everyone works toward the same goal.
Prior to making any decisions regarding your ‘saving marriage'
problems, visit www.LightYourFire.com. Their
professionals can assist you in reviewing some marriage programs
which would be helpful for you. Let www.LightYourFire.com show you the many ways they
can find a solution to the issues.

Invest In Your
Future - An Offer You Can't Refuse?

Many of us have heard the term "down-sizing."
Down-sizing in corporations has taken its toll on the American
worker. Many people, ranging in age from their late 40s to early
60s, now face very difficult employment decisions. In record
numbers, employers in almost all industries are asking middle-aged,
middle managers, to consider "early retirement." The offers may
range from lucrative to paltry, but the decisions are difficult in
almost every case. Let's review some of the factors to consider
when evaluating one of these "offers you can't refuse." You
must consider three levels of concern when contemplating
retirement. First, you must consider the emotional aspects of an
early retirement decision. It is possible, in fact probable, that
you never considered retiring today. For many people, especially
those in their 40s and early 50s, retirement is still a hazy goal,
far off in the future. They may not have given any thought to what
they will do during retirement, whether they will seek other
employment or any of a myriad of other opportunities. The
offer of early retirement can affect those who choose to stay with
the company as well. Will they have the same, hopefully positive,
feelings toward their employer and supervisor? Early retirement
programs are often instituted by companies undergoing stressful and
uncertain times. Staying around may seem almost as difficult as
leaving. You may be unable or unwilling to make financial decisions
until you confront these emotional and psychological
issues.

The second level of concern is financial. Obviously, you
have two choices: do I stay, or do I go? If you choose to stay,
what is the financial health of the company? Should you take the
money and run? If you stay, what are the prospects for career
promotions and pay increases? Will staying merely postpone an
inevitable career change, under perhaps less advantageous
circumstances? Of course, leaving is also fraught with uncertainty.
If you intend to pursue another position, many experts estimate
that your job search will last about one month for every $10,000 in
compensation paid by the former employer. Many early retirees
become entrepreneurs, so the prospects for a new business and the
need for start-up capital must be considered. When evaluating the
retirement offer itself, there are also a variety of potential
pitfalls. Health insurance is a major concern for many, so
find out whether you will continue to be covered. Employers with
defined benefit plans may be granting additional years of service
or assuming early retirees are older than their actual age for
purposes of computing their benefit. The employer may also offer
some additional benefit to tide the employee over until age 62 when
they can begin to collect Social Security.

The third level of concern consists of the tax issues
that come into play. Numerous special rules may apply. For example,
those who were at least 60 on January 1, 1996 may qualify to use
ten-year forward averaging. Those who are 55 or older when they
receive their retirement plan distribution are not subject to the
10 percent penalty. If you elect to pursue the substantially equal
payment exception to the 10 percent penalty, the payments must
continue for the longer of five years or turning age 59
½.

Of course, this brief article is no substitute for a
careful consideration of all of the advantages and disadvantages of
this matter in light of your unique personal circumstances. Before
implementing any significant tax or financial planning strategy,
contact your financial planner, attorney or tax advisor as
appropriate. Feel free to call me at 817-501-6950 any
time.

Fargo is the largest community in North Dakota. Moorhead borders
Fargo to the east. The communities are located near the
intersection of I-94, which runs east/west, and I-29, which runs
north/south. Residents have easy access to several forms of
transportation including the Hector International Airport, Amtrak
train station and Metro Area Transit - the city's bus system.

The Fargo Public School District provides instruction through 15
elementary schools, three middle/junior high schools and three
senior high schools. There are also several private schools in the
community.

During the summers, students in grades 6-12 can participate in
the Trollwood Performing Arts School, a unique youth development
program committed to providing high quality performing arts
education, community entertainment and an appreciation of the arts.
The program takes place in Trollwood Cultural and Arts Park and
utilizes 36 acres of wooded riverbanks, open-air stages and Fargo
Moorhead was voted the #1 area to start a business in 2006. In
2005, Fargo Moorhead was one of the Fastest "Top 10" growing cities
in the United States. In 2007 New Home Construction grew 4.7%.
Fargo Moorhead Real Estate continues to grow each day & is not
showing any signs of slowing up soon. Major areas of growth today
are; South East Moorhead, the Osgood area by West Fargo, &
rural Sabin, Glyndon, Dilworth, Barnesville, Mapleton, Casselton,
and Horace. Rural Real Estate has become popular due to lower taxes
& a very short commute.

Fargo is the largest community in North Dakota. Moorhead borders
Fargo to the east. The communities are located near the
intersection of I-94, which runs east/west, and I-29, which runs
north/south. Residents have easy access to several forms of
transportation including the Hector International Airport, Amtrak
train station and Metro Area Transit - the city's bus system.

The Fargo Public School District provides instruction through 15
elementary schools, three middle/junior high schools and three
senior high schools. There are also several private schools in the
community.

During the summers, students in grades 6-12 can participate in
the Trollwood Performing Arts School, a unique youth development
program committed to providing high quality performing arts
education, community entertainment and an appreciation of the arts.
The program takes place in Trollwood Cultural and Arts Park and
utilizes 36 acres of wooded riverbanks, open-air stages and
renovated farm buildings to conduct its program every year. A major
production of a main stage musical that features the students as
participants is the highlight of this program.

For those seeking higher education, there numerous colleges and
universities located within 50 miles from the city center. North
Dakota State University is a four-year institution and is located
right in town. Concordia College and Minnesota State University are
located in nearby Moorhead. Northwestern Technical College, also
located in Moorhead, is a two-year campus that offers programs for
associate degrees, diplomas and certificates as well as technical
training courses.

The Fargo Park District prides itself on the numerous beautiful
parks located throughout the city offering everything from ball
fields and basketball courts to picnic facilities and shelters. The
district oversees several other facilities including the Robert D.
Johnson Recreation Center, the Edgewood Chalet, the Northern
Pacific Depot and three indoor ice facilities; Coliseum, Sports
Arena and Metro Rec Center. In the winter, skiing, sledding and
tubing are available at the Edgewood Chalet and the Dike West.

The Northern Pacific Depot has been a Fargo landmark since its
construction in 1898. In 1971 Burlington Northern, successor to the
Northern Pacific Railroad, deeded the depot and its grounds to the
city of Fargo. Momentum to preserve the historic landmark began to
gather steam. In 1975 it became the first Fargo building entered on
the National Register of Historic Places, and a campaign was begun
to restore its interior. Presently owned by the Fargo Park
District, the depot also houses the Fargo Senior Commission and the
Senior Center.

Fargo offers a wide array of entertainment opportunities from
sophisticated drama to world famous singers to an old-fashion
rodeo. The Celebrity Walk of Fame - located at the Convention and
Visitors Bureau -- is a growing collection of more than 100 star
signatures, handprints and footprints in cement.

Fargo prides itself on its rich history. The initial settlers in
the area were Scandinavian, German and European immigrants. The
city was named for William G. Fargo, a partner in the Wells-Fargo
Express Company. Early Fargo was then a collection of small shops,
stores and warehouses that were clustered along Broadway and Front
Street. In 1893, nearly all of downtown Fargo was lost in the Great
Fire of that year. After the fire, new construction favored more
fire resistant buildings. Fargo continued to expand during the
national economic boom that started in 1898 and ended with World
War I. During the war, The Ford Motor Company built a large
assembly plant downtown on Broadway and the Northern Pacific
Railroad came through the area. Both of these events brought more
residents to the area.

Today, Fargo is a rapidly growing cosmopolitan or as the locals
call it a micropolitan city. While some may believe that Fargo is a
place of never ending snow and unusual accents, the city has been
consistently recognized as a place where an excellent quality of
life can be found.

But there is more than just parks to enjoy throughout the year.
There are a variety of golf courses in the area and the Red River
Valley is home numerous bike and walking trails. Zoos, museums,
theatres and historical sites are located throughout the area. With
300 acres of bluestem prairie woods, a swimming area, camping and
river communities, Buffalo River State Park is well suited for
family fun and environmental education. A variety of free programs
and field trips are offered to the public, area school districts
and other groups.

Another great diversion for residents and visitors are the many
shopping possibilities. The First Center South, the Northport
Shopping Center and the University Square are all located in Fargo.
The busiest area in Fargo is around I-29 and 13th Avenue and this
is where the largest shopping mall in the region is located. West
Acres Shopping Mall features retail stores, department stores and a
host of restaurants. There is also an antique mall for those that
are looking for that special antique.

renovated farm buildings to conduct its program every year. A
major production of a main stage musical that features the students
as participants is the highlight of this program. Contact Dave for
more statistics or additional information on the greater FM
area!

Have you had a steady source of income for 2-3 years and is it
a reliable source?

Do you have any outstanding debts such as credit card or car
payments?

Do you have money for a down payment?

A good record of paying your bills?

The means to pay a monthly mortgage?

Become pre-approved

Once you choose a lender, they will perform an extensive check
on your current financial status. They will determine the loan
amount your will be eligible for. Doing this will help the seller
know you are capable of buying a home and that no problems will
arise.

Determine your needs

Make a note of why you are looking for a new home. Is your
family growing, would you like to build equity, are you moving to a
new town? Create a mental picture of what you would like your
future house to look like. Make a list of must have items and
another list of items you would like to have. It's extremely
important to know exactly what you need in your new home. Give
yourself a time frame for buying a home. THis will keep you on
track and give you a guideline to follow. Your agent will be able
to assist you once they know exactly what you want and will help to
fulfill you needs.

This is the Fargo Moorhead Area's Top Internet Source on
searching, buying, and selling Fargo Moorhead area Homes and Fargo
Moorhead Real Estate with up to date listing information and
detailed property MLS search capability!

This site is dedicated to relocation information for Fargo ND and
Moorhead MN, West Fargo ND, Fargo Moorhead Surrounding Rural areas,
and almost anything else related to living in or working the FM
area. Please visit the links to Featured MLS Listings. You will
find Fargo and Moorhead residential condos, condominiums, town
homes, twin homes, investments, real estate and new construction
properties marketed for sale and for rent by Top Fargo Moorhead
Realtors.

Specific Information on Loans for VA, HUD, Short Sales, and
Foreclosures are available by contacting Dave Werth directly.

If you're thinking about buying a home as a First Time Homebuyer,
attend The Home Buyer/Homebuyer Education Program. The program can
help you qualify for down payment and closing cost assistance up to
$3,000 from the city of Fargo, ND, and $4,000 from the city of
Moorhead, MN. Plan now to attend home buyer educational classes for
FREE, as the homebuyer education classes and individual financial
counseling sessions are available at Family Life Credit Services
and The Village. Contact Dave about a Home buyer Education class
schedule, or email Dave for more information on Homebuyer Education
Classes and schedules. Dave is an instructor for First Time
Homebuyer Education.

Are You......
a First Home buyer Homebuyer? Curious about houses and prices in
Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead Minnesota? Wanting to move into
Fargo Moorhead (or find rural property)? Preparing your home to
sell: what do you do to get ready to sell? Wondering about down
payment, financing, closing costs, interest rates etc?...... Are
you Transferring, Relocating, Comparing home prices in the Fargo ND
Moorhead MN West Fargo ND or surrounding FM area?
Thank you so much for your consideration! Search around my website
for more information on Fargo Moorhead Real Estate and much
more!

Dave Werth is one of the Top Fargo Moorhead Buyer & Listing
Agency services. Dave is one of Kvamme Real Estate's Top
Producers....Kvamme Real Estate Realtors are Members of the Home
Builders Assoc, Graduates of the Realtors Institute, Certified
Residential Specialists, Certified First Homes Specialists, &
Fargo Moorhead Association of Realtors.....Specializing in Buyer
Agency, Relocation, Investments, 1031 exchanges, New Construction,
Residential Marketing.

Disclaimer: Trulia, Inc. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. Trulia, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.